India bird flu outbreak: 26,000 birds culled

Over 26,000 birds have been culled in West Bengal's bird-flu hit Murshidabad district, a health ministry official said.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, under the ministry of agriculture, reported the avian influenza outbreak in Hazrabati and Nagar villages in Murshidabad on 14 January.

'Culling of birds has started and so far 26,963 birds have been culled and 1,286 eggs have been destroyed,' said a statement.

The union health ministry has stationed a 3-member central rapid response team at Murshidabad to assist the state health authorities.

According to officials, containment measures have been initiated. Additionally, about 353 poultry workers involved in culling operations have been put on chemoprophylaxis - a medicine given to prevent the disease or infection from spreading to humans.